Ashtead

Last week saw a rare visit to Ashtead, a busy suburban village a little to the south of Epsom which we rarely visit. Even more rarely now that we no longer walk through the Common to Lower Ashtead. But on this occasion we had accumulated a small collection of odd jobs.

First, there was the matter of the freebie reproduction of a painting by one Dod Proctor, noticed at reference 1, which I finally got around to deciding was fit to be hung in the study, which meant a visit to the framer in Ashtead, the one or two we used to have in Epsom having closed.

Next, the matter of our fake gas fire - NuFlame - which had suddenly stopped firing. The one noticed at reference 2. The chap who had sold it to us was still present and correct in Ashtead High Street, and while he was not going to mend it himself, he had the card of someone who would. Work in progress. And we have learned that alien gas fires are not covered by our all singing, all dancing maintenance contract with British Gas. But their engineer was able to offer the very same card! Perhaps it was his brother-in-law or something of that sort.

Next stop lunch, but we were a little early, so we took an apéritif in the Leg of Mutton, a house which we have visited rarely, if ever before. Seemingly specialists in rugby, but their pint was decent enough.

From there to Zia Vitalia of reference 3, a place which we have been meaning to visit for years, being connected with the Ponte's in Ebbisham Square in Epsom ( see reference 5) which we used to use before it morphed into a Picture House - which we have yet to use.

The waiter told us that 'Zia' was aunt, which is confirmed by Webster's Italian section - while 'Vitalia' is missing. However, Bing/Copilot tell me that:

'The name Vitalia is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "vitalis," which means "vital" or "life-giving." It signifies a person who is full of life and vitality, often associated with energy and a zest for life. The name reflects a vibrant and dynamic personality, embodying qualities of resilience, determination, and a strong will to succeed'

Auntie Lively sounds quite plausible.

Withycombe allows 'Vitalis', apparently the name of several early saints, Italian, although she does not allow 'Vitalia'. Brought to England by the Normans, but it did not make it through the the subsequent ten centuries. Name of a saint sounds even more plausible.

Gemini has lots to offer, including, in response to a supplementary:

'... The reason Withycombe suggests there are "several" Italian saints of this name—and why they are mostly men—is due to the Roman military. Vitalis was a very popular name for Roman soldiers (meaning "full of life" or "vigorous"). Since many early martyrs were converted soldiers, the list of "St. Vitalis" entries in the Martyrology became quite long, while the female version, Vitalia, remained a rarer civil name during that period...'.

He did not need to be told who Withycombe was in this context.

I don't suppose I shall get around to checking the detail of his response, some of which looks a bit iffy - but not to the point of disturbing the drift of his contribution.

The restaurant carrying the name turned out to be rather bigger inside than might appear from the outside, with our particular corner snapped above.

We both took mushrooms to start and very good they were too. Very lightly looked in a way which we don't seem to be able to manage at home. Were they tinned with with a little flavoured butter poured on top?

We both took calves' liver to follow. BH found the accompanying bacon a little salty, but between the two of us it all went.

Power gravy, but just a dab which was fine. Rather than the small lake of the stuff that you often get if you forget - as I all too often do - to ask for it to be put into a jug on the side.

Wound up with a slice of something described as cheese cake. Not much like a cheese cake which I knew about, but good all the same. Helped along with a little grappa, Earl Grey, etc.

Maybe we will get back there before too long, perhaps when the Proctor is ready.

Wound up with a visit to the butcher adjacent where, to my surprise I was able to buy a Slomer's white pudding. Sold to me by the chap who had been in the butcher's at Manor Green Road, abandoned over discrepancies in the accounts. The same problem as took his predecessor down. See towards the end of reference 6.

We had thought to go to Milner's to see about a slip of carpet for our hallway, but decided that siestas called instead. Chambres separées - which I now know does not mean the same thing in Stockholm as it does in Maigret. See reference 7.

Out again later on in the day to take in an earlier state of the wall noticed in the last post. Proper footings for the new wall. 

The old wall had been taken out with the help of a miniature digger, rather than doing the job properly with sledge hammer, club hammer and cold chisel.

I shall check with OED later. I remember now that 'sledging' in a term for abuse between cricketers - a term which Gemini says was probably invented by the Australians, who take their cricket almost as seriously as sub-continentals.

And, despite the substantial lunch, on to buy a spot of natural smoked haddock from Waitrose with which to knock up some soup with a little left over potato.Very well it did too, with my having managed to get the texture of the potato broth base just right.

Before starting on the potato, the haddock had been lightly cooked in a little butter, cooked enough that I could get the skin off without bother.

PS 1: I associate now from the Proctor nude of reference 1 to Galsworthy's penchant for tragic love stories involving apple trees. Stories which are not so far in time from the painting.

PS 2: Google Images tells me that the painting was done in 1934, so perhaps twenty or thirty years after the stories.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/09/trolley-967.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2017/01/suburban-bliss.html. 

Reference 3: https://ziavitalia.co.uk/.

Reference 4: https://legofmuttonandcauliflower.co.uk/.

Reference 5: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/02/epsom-at-play.html. 

Reference 6: https://psmv6.blogspot.com/2026/02/out-of-order.html.

Reference 7: https://thenordicnomad.com/eat-drink/stockholms-most-spectacular-chambres-separees-and-private-dining-rooms/.

Group search key: 20260219.